My mother is at present a patient in Princess Royal University Hospital and the closing of the Elizabeth Ward may set her back.

I feel what a waste of our taxpayers' money.

All of this is part and parcel of this Government's plans to try and privatise the NHS.

I am aware the NHS has funding issues, and I think back to a time when hospitals used to be able to run fetes to raise money.

My mother herself was a children nurse and used to work at Sydenham Children's Hospital in her day the hospital raised money it needed though fetes. Again it is something this Government have stopped.

Looking back perhaps PRUH should have been expanded with more floors and space to cater for everything such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy pool on site.

A rehabilitation ward would have benefitted more if it had been on the ground floor with a garden for patients to be able to go out and get some fresh air.

It seems such a waste of NHS money doing up wards only for them to be closed down due to funding.

Maybe the Government need to go back to fundraising like in the past.

And perhaps an NHS tax is a good idea.

We are so lucky in this country to have an NHS service. At times we take it for granted as a nation but I hope it is around for another 70 years as it helps many, myself included.

Katrina Cummins